Shivkumar Sharma Biography 
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is the master of Santoor – an Indian musical instrument. It was Sharma who popularized this folk instrument of Jammu and Kashmir throughout India and abroad. He is credited with making the Santoor a popular Classical Instrument. He formed a musical group with Hariprasad Chaurasia – Shiv-Hari. Together they have given music to many hit Bollywood movies like – Silsilay, Chandini, Faasle, Vijay, Parampara, Lamhe, Sahibaa and Darr. Together they have worked for 8 movies and many other projects. They received Filmfare nominations for best music for the movies – Silsila, Chandini and Darr. Shivkumar Sharma has frequently appeared in many cultural programs of Doordarshan and other television channels. Shivkumar’s son, Rahul Sharma is a famous vocalist and he plays santoor as well.
Shivkumar Sharma was born in Kashmir January 13, 1938 as the son of Uma Dutt Sharma, a singer. He learnt the primary lessons of music and tabla from his father at the age of 5. Uma Dutt Sharma did "extensive research" on the santoor and it was his dream to see his son as the first Indian to play classical music on Santoor. Shivkumar started learning santoor at the age of 13 and his first appearance was made in 1955 in Mumbai. Though he started his career as a vocalist, he later dedicated his full life to this Kashmir-folk instrument. Shivkumar composed the background music for one of the scenes for the famous musical film – Jhanak jhanak baaje paayaliya (1957). It was for the first time this musical instrument was used in a film.
Shivkumar’s first solo album was recorded in the year 1960. He teamed up with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and Brij Bhushan Kabra in the year 1967 to produce a concept album, Call of the Valley. Alter he teamed up with the flautist to do 8 films in Bollywood as a music composer. Shivkumar has received Padmashri, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and many more honours.
Published: N/A
Updated: October 01, 2013
